Sept. 13, 2003

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - New University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee tennis coach Erika Wentz was hoping to see improvement over the three days the Panthers were to be spending at the Gopher Invitational.

So far, so good, according to Wentz, who saw a number of her performers try to make their mark on day two of the three-day event after being shut out on day one.

The highlights included the doubles team of Tammie Spiel and Cassie Kuranz beating a team from Drake, 9-8. The two won, 8-6, in the tiebreaker after trailing, 5-2. Kuranz also won a singles match, 6-4, 6-1, against a rival from UW-Green Bay.

"We had a better day," Wentz said of Saturday. "The doubles match that we won was the best doubles match of the day and just a great effort by our team. We've pushed hard in some other matches and lost to some of the top players in the nation. We're showing some improvements and we're moving up step-by-step."

The event includes nine teams, including defending Big 10 champion Minnesota and defending Horizon League champion UIC. The Panthers have eight players in the singles competition and four teams in the doubles competition. Play wraps up Sunday.